The Niobid PainterJSE

8/14/2019 The Niobid PainterJSE

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The NiobidPainter

Calyx Krater

White text: p.59-61

Black text: p.75-78


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The Niobid Painter

The Niobid Painter is named after thescene on Side B of this vase; the killing of the Niobids (the children of Queen Niobe).

He was influenced by the wall painter Polygnotos, though he would have beenfamiliar with other painters, like Mikon inAthens


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Shape: Calyx krater

Function: mixingbowl for wine andwater.

Painter: NiobidPainter

Potter: unknown

Technique: red figure

Date: c.470-450 B.C


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DimensionsDimensions

Height: 55cm


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Inscriptions

There are no inscriptions on this vase.Neither the potter or the painter signed the

vase, and none of the figures are named.


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Side A


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Side A - Interpretation

Niobid Painter did not name any of hisfigures, so art historians have suggesteddifferent interpretations for the scene onSide A.The story of The Seven Against Thebesis one possibility. The Gathering of theArgonauts is another possibility.Another suggestion is Herakles Voyageinto the Underworld to Rescue Theseus.


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Herakles stands in the centreof the frieze, attracting theviewers attention.

He is naked except for hislionskin (over his leftshoulder), but wears a beardand a wreath, and looks to

his right at the warriors.He also carries his trademarkclub and a bow.

Herakles


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Theseus pulls himself upusing the spears he holds inhis left hand.

His pose is very natural andbalanced, with his straightright arm, and bent left leg.His right foot is turnedoutward in frontal view.

His sword is slung across his

chest on a strap, while hewears a petassos atravelling hat around theback of his neck.

Theseus?


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Peirthoos sits to theright of Herakles.Naked, he sits on hishimation, with his

sword slung aroundhis chest. This is anunusual pose. Hishead is view and,while appears to belooking at Theseus,he looks bored.

Peirthoos?


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These two figures areboth shown in acombination of frontal, and profileviews. They are thefinest figures shownon the vase.

These figures showthe influence of thewall-painter Polygnotos.


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To the right of Herakles, all these

figures are arrangedon an unevengroundline.

This creates a senseof depth.On the far right of thecomposition, a man isdepicted standing byhis horse. It ispossible that he isalso one of Castor and Pollux.


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wears a Thracianhelmet with ahorsehair crest. Hewears greaves,carries a shield andleans on his spear.

This warrior


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Athena stands behindthe warrior. Shewears a chiton and anelaborate himation.

She is armed with aspear, and wears anAttic helmet on top of her head. It hasdetailed, hinged noseand cheek flaps.

Athena?


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Behind Athena thereare three warriors.

One is armed with acorselet of metalscales, a helmetwithout a crest, a

spear and a shield.He stands, half-hidden, behind arock. This is inspired

by the painting of Mikon of Athens.

A third figure may beeither Castor or Pollux.


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Side B


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Side B - Interpretation

Again, art historians have suggested thatthere may be several differentinterpretations for the scene on Side B.

The most probable interpretation involvesApollo and Artemis murder of the Niobids.


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The MythNiobe was daughter of Tantalus, and the queen of Thebes. Her husband, King Amphion, was a son of the

god Zeus and was a great musician. Niobe bore him sixhandsome sons and six beautiful daughters (somestories say seven of each). One day when the people of Thebes were celebrating a feast for the goddess Leto,the mother of Apollo and Artemis, Niobe boasted that, asshe had more children than Leto and because of her beauty and high lineage, she should be honouredinstead of Leto.The gods heard her words on distant Mount Olympusand resolved to punish her. Leto's childrenApollo, godof prophecy and a master archer; and Artemis, goddessof the huntfired their arrows with deadly aim, killing allof Niobe's children. The grief-stricken Niobe was turnedinto marble from which tears forever ran in the form of aspring.


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Apollo stands in thecentre of the frieze,with his legs apart,

firing arrows. Hispose is reminiscentof Greek sculpture.His quiver hangsempty beside him.He is naked, exceptfor a folded cloakwhich hangs over hisarm.

Apollo


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Artemis is also in thecentre of the frieze.She is in the processof taking an arrowfrom her quiver. Her

arm is foreshortened.She wears a peploswith an embroideredhem. It is clearlyfastened at theshoulder. She wearsan ornament on astring around her neck. She wears a

sakkos.

Artemis


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Here a stylised treegrows on a small hill.

This is the onlyindication of landscape.

A boy runs away

from Apollo. He isnaked and hasalready been hit inthe ribs by one of Apollos arrows.


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Another boy liesdying from an arrowwound in the back.His face is viewand his eyes areclosed. He clutchesthe rock he has fallenonto.

Another arrow lies onthe ground nearby.


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Apollos arrows never missed, so another body must be hiddenbehind a rock.

The implied presenceof another corpse isa huge step forwardin vase decorating.


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A dead girl lies infront of Artemis withan arrow sticking outof her back. Her faceis shown in frontalview, and her eyesare closed. Her armis outstretched andher hair isdishevelled.

She wears a diadem this shows she is of royal status.


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Behind Artemis is aboy wrapped in acloak. He is runningterror away fromArtemis, but he hasalready been hit inthe chest and will diesoon.


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CompositionBoth sides are very crowded with manyfigures in various different poses.This is complicated by the use of differentgroundlines. This would have given theimpression of depth. The groundlineswere painted in purple slip, but these havefaded, and now some of the figuresappear to be floating. This increases thefeeling of a connection with Greeksculpture.


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The Niobid Painter: Innovations

Influence of wall painting

Freedom of the figures Use of shading Use of multiple ground-line helps to

form a landscape background Depicting of figures in profile of three

quarter view Depiction of drapery is more realistic

zig-zags are less sharp and folds looksmoother

Eyes are painted in true profile, whichallows the viewer to follow what thefigures are looking at
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The Niobid PainterJSE

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